She will be responsible for the administration and coordination of disability service programs at UT Tyler. This includes counseling students, reviewing student records and collaborating with university faculty and staff to ensure equal access in academics and other aspects of college life.

In this role, Staples also serves as UT Tyler’s Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator and provides outreach programming on campus and in the community to bring awareness to related issues.

She holds a master of arts degree in professional counseling from Amberton University in Garland and a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from UT Tyler.

Prior to serving Winsted Services, Staples served as the tutor and deaf student interpreter coordinator at Tyler Junior College. Fluent in American Sign Language, she also owned Deaf Services of East Texas, where she provided interpreter services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities in 23 East Texas counties.